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- Building An Incredible Bench Press (1985)

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[12 Pages] You never know what you might find when going through a big stack of old strength magazines. Case in point to that statement is this unique course which we never saw advertised anywhere that we know of but which contains a dynamite routine for increasing bench press strength.
This course is short but to the point and you'll get the specific details of the program that allowed Michael Martin to add 100 lbs. to his top bench press lift in only six months. This is another one of those forgotten gems that few would ever had a chance to see otherwise.
- An Alphabet of Athletics (1904)

A lot of interesting books on physical training have flown in under the radar and this little-known classic from 1904 certainly fits that description perfectly. Eustace Miles wrote many books and articles on physical training and "An Alphabet of Athletics" stands out as a pretty unique take ~ even over a century later....keep reading
- Indian Club Exercises (1898)

Exercises with the Indian clubs, as a rule, are of the most complicated and intricate character. In fact, the more intricate, probably the less beneficial in their effect. I have, therefore, chosen a few simple exercises with a view of straightening the trunk, shoulders, and upper parts of the body....keep reading
- A Physical Fitness Handbook on Isometric Contraction (1962)

[28 pages] The people of our country are beginning to realize the fact that we are as a rule physically unfit when compared to the people of other countries. Our President has made a determined effort to inform our school systems of this embarrassing fact and has proposed programs to develop better fitness.
Now a new means of developing strength and muscular fitness is sweeping the country. This system is called Isometric Contraction and is now considered by most top trainers and athletic coaches in the world as the best and fastest means for developing over all strength and muscular fitness. The purpose of this handbook is to make available to every student, athlete, and adult, who wishes to develop and maintain fitness, information on the theory of Isometric Contraction and to present an easy to follow illustrated program of isometric exercises....keep reading
- SINKRAM Super Speed System Self Resistance Course: Magic Waist Reducer (1962)

[12 pages] The SINKRAM Super Speed System Self Resistance Arm Building Course was advertised in the back of Popular Science magazine during the early 1960's. It was only available by mail order and evidently, not many of them were sold. There were three "lessons" each devoted to a different area of development. The other lessons are useful, but the abdominal course is truly excellent....keep reading
- The Art of Breathing (1902)

THE cultivation of breathing as a fine art should be of vital interest to every man, woman, and child; but the distance to which it can be carried is a constant surprise to all who see only the results, without following the process by which they are obtained...
The conditions of modern life make so few calls on great lung capacity that the chest becomes flattened, the lungs cramped, and the shoulders rounded. The muscles of the abdomen become weakened and relaxed by inaction, leaving areas of the lungs practically unused and fallow for the growth of disease germs. The daily practise of a few simple breathing exercises will soon round out the flattened chest, expand the lungs, force the stooped shoulders back into place, and strengthen the abdominal walls, thus improving the health and adding grace to the carriage....keep reading
- Moore's Squat Bar

[14 pages] For centuries, the test of a man's physical power has always been measured by his leg strength and endurance. In this modern age of mechanization, it is difficult, if not impossible, to develop strong legs and endurance... The DEEP KNEE BEND or SQUAT EXERCISE has always been recognized at the greatest exercise of all. With this one exercise performed with weights, anyone can stay in excellent health. Bodyweight can be gained or lost easily and a pair of strong legs and great endurance attained quickly... Until the introduction of MOORE'S SQUAT BAR, as a rule, only athletes or persons exercising under professional instruction practiced the deep knee bend of squat with weights....keep reading
- Weight Lifting (1933)

[96 pages] Check out this classic weightlifting guide direct from Mother Russia. Barbells, sandbag lifting, log training and, of course, kettlebells, are discussed in detail....keep reading
- The Strong Man - Volume 2, Number 4 - November, 1932

[16 pages] THE STRONG MAN was a monthly publication of the Milo Barbell Company and edited by Marl H. Berry. Copies of this magazine are few and far between. This issue, the November, 1932 edition, features John Grimek on the cover and an excellent article on the One Arm Jerk, which was still a contested lift in Olympic Weightlifting at the time.
Also of note is the letter from a devoted physical culture trainee espousing how intense leg work "brought out" his chest....keep reading
- Iron Man Magazine Volume 1., No. 6

[18 pages] Peary Rader famously started what would become Iron Man magazine when he fished a broken mimeograph machine out of the garbage can at the school where he worked. Peary only created 50 copies of the first few issues and sent them mostly to friends.
Here we have Volume 1, No. 6 of Iron Man magazine, a copy of one of the rarest publications in all of the Iron Game, and true buried treasure, now available for Iron Leaguers to read and learn from. Issue No. 6 is the first magazine-size publication that Peary created, the earlier issues were booklet size....keep reading
- The Split-Set System (1967)

[8 pages] This nifty little course was advertised in the pages of Iron Man magazine for years... obviously not many people sent away for it because we have the only copy that we know if in existence and now proudly make it available for Iron League members!
"THE SPLIT-SET SYSTEM is a new training style. Do you want to gain more muscle size on your arms, chest, shoulders, back and thighs? If you are not gaining with the program you are now on, try the Split-Set System."...keep reading
- How to Perform Strong Man Stunts

How to Perform Strong Man Stunts was originally written in the 1940's and revised several times. Like all our reprinted material, great care has been taken to reproduce the material faithfully.
As you are about to read, all the world does indeed love a strongman and while you may not have plans to run off and join the circus any time soon, it is always good to have the ability to impress your friends by ripping a phone book or deck of cards in half....keep reading
- Feats of Strength: How to Perform Them (1927)

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[92 Pages] "...Strength and fitness is probably the secret desire of most men and women. Mr. Sid Harmer goes a step further and strikes a decided note in insisting on grace and suppleness as an essential corollary. With his experience and knowledge of matters physical, Mr. Harmer is undoubtedly qualified to lay down the law, and although he does not promise the reader the ability to perform the feats he treats of, yet he gives an object lesson in pointing out to what heights of perfection the human body can be trained. To potential strong men, this little work should prove invaluable. To the ordinary man in the street, it should give cause for wonder..."
- Bodybuilding World Newsletter - February, 1978

[24 pages] Back in the days before the internet, the only way to get the latest bodybuilding news was by mail through newsletters like this one. The February, 1978 issue of 'Bodybuilding World' contains interviews, workouts, contest reports and the "latest news."
This publication was pretty obscure even in it's day but it is still certainly a part of strength history. Bill Reynolds went on to become the editor in chief of FLEX magazine....keep reading
- Ironman Magazine - Vol. 30, No. 5, - July, 1971

[82 pages] COVER: Ralph Kroger
* THE BILL PEARL STORY by George Coates
* A UNIQUE METHOD OF BULKING UP by Roger Metz
* HOW MANY WORKOUTS PER WEEK? by Bradley Steiner
* BOB GALLUCCI - A FUTURE CHAMP by Peary Rader
* ARM TRAINING FOR THE ADVANCED MAN by George Coates
* TRIM THAT TORSO GIRLS by Bettye Stern and Betty Coates
* PROS & CONS OF POWER RACK TRAINING by Anthony Ditillo
* ARE YOUR BICEPS A PROBLEM? by Achilles Kallos
* THE NEXT STEP by Arthur Jones
* WINSTON BINNEY - HOOSIER POWERHOUSE by Bruce Wilhelm...keep reading
- John Davis Lifts The Apollon Wheels

A rare and classic clip of John Davis lifting the famous rail car wheels of Apollon. Davis blacked out on his first attempt and dropped the wheels, (which bent them slightly). Davis was, however, successful on his second attempt....keep reading
- Super Physique Body-Building Bar-Bell Course(1931)

[34 pages] "In preparing this course of bar-bell instruction, I have taken into very careful consideration the numerous books and articles that have been written on bar-bells and their uses. No doubt they have produced some remarkable and enviable results, but due to the fact that I have received scores of letters from all over the civilized world inquiring how my development has been attained, I am prompted to publish these exercises."...keep reading
- Breakfast With Bullough

Henry "Hank" Bullough was a really tough guy. He played Guard at Michigan State in the early fifties and then with the Green Bay Packers...but he made his mark in the NFL as a defensive coach. Hank coached defense with the Baltimore Colts, the Boston Patriots, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Packers and later with the Buffalo Bills...he even served a stint as head coach with the Bills.
I got to know Hank when Forrest Gregg brought him in to coach the Bengals' defense with Dick LeBeau in the early '80's. Hank was about as "old school" as you could get......keep reading
- Vince's Six Week Bulk Course (1973)

[18 pages] This program's purpose is designed to produce quick size by working non-specifically (four different aspects of each muscle) - in other words, it is not a shaping course. Now, the muscle to receive the most work is the muscle you start with. I always start with the arms. So, this is how I will set up the course. Before we start, I would like to point out that muscle tissue does not grow unless taxed 85 per cent! Beware, however, never work to 100 per cent because maximum energy output will stop all muscular growth!f...keep reading
- Strandpulling Systems and Schedules

In physical training of all types, bodybuilding, strength training, etc, the assembly of a schedule is extremely important as the the actual results besides"selling" a system can be greatly altered by good or bad arrangement of a schedule.
In Strandpulling circles, little attention is normally paid to this fact, other than the selection of exercises, so in this articles, I will deal with the compiling of schedules and detial some of the best systems used by our top liners for various purposes....keep reading
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